With the epoxies and polyurethanes available today, I have a hard time trying to come up with reasons why so many manufacturers continue to use paint technologies of the past. The obvious reason is cost. If I was given the option to spend $1000 more on a $30000 tractor to ensure that it doesn't rust away, it would be a no-brainer.

Re: FEL paint peeling

Originally Posted by kiotiken

Not sure what happened the first time I tried posting these, I'll give it another shot. I managed to get out and take a few close ups tonight.

WOW! KK, I think they painted those cylinders in the South Korean Sea, literally UNDERWATER.
Bogus! That tractor needs two new cylinders, now. I wouldn't bother with doing anything with them but getting your dealer to replace them. Rust as bad as that and as extensive as it is will be hard if not impossible to fix and last.
Powdercoating might work if they were taken apart and stripped down and reassembled after- heat would cook the seals, as suggested by Gary. Not worth the effort and that is just another reason it's under warranty- MANUFACTURING DEFECT!!
Oh, I almost forgot- it's just a tractor, man, so no worries
Call dealer, send him the later pics- get new cylinders.
Sorry for your trouble- it sux...

Re: FEL paint peeling

Well, new cylinders was my first thought as well but the problem isn't limited to the cylinders alone. I tried to post about 8 pics last night put it didn't work. The pics I didn't retry showed the end of the loader arms close to the pins on either side doing the same thing. I did call my dealer and sent him the link to this post (hey Jim), so I'll wait to see what can be done about it.

From the parts that are affected and the pattern of the rust on the front of the FEL, it really seems like the tractor was sitting waiting for paint and somebody drove by on a cart and splashed it with dirty water or something. Standing in front of the tractor, the right side is much worse than the left side but they're both rusting in a splash pattern.

Re: FEL paint peeling

Originally Posted by kiotiken

Well, new cylinders was my first thought as well but the problem isn't limited to the cylinders alone. I tried to post about 8 pics last night put it didn't work. The pics I didn't retry showed the end of the loader arms close to the pins on either side doing the same thing. I did call my dealer and sent him the link to this post (hey Jim), so I'll wait to see what can be done about it.

From the parts that are affected and the pattern of the rust on the front of the FEL, it really seems like the tractor was sitting waiting for paint and somebody drove by on a cart and splashed it with dirty water or something. Standing in front of the tractor, the right side is much worse than the left side but they're both rusting in a splash pattern.

That is what I was thinking too, that there was something on the metal that was painted over. It would be interesting to take your pocket knife to the edges of one of those blister areas and pop some more paint off of the edge of the blister and look at the metal and see if it is clean or if it too is rusted already.. In other words, is it just a splash or is the problem more widespread under the paint. And if you are not able to pop the paint off at all, perhaps that would tell us that it is adhered properly, and lend more credence to the splash contamination theory.

Re: FEL paint peeling

Originally Posted by k0ua

That is what I was thinking too, that there was something on the metal that was painted over. It would be interesting to take your pocket knife to the edges of one of those blister areas and pop some more paint off of the edge of the blister and look at the metal and see if it is clean or if it too is rusted already.. In other words, is it just a splash or is the problem more widespread under the paint. And if you are not able to pop the paint off at all, perhaps that would tell us that it is adhered properly, and lend more credence to the splash contamination theory.

James K0UA

The thought of it not being a splash type issue scares me, not sure I'm ready to face that possibility. I'll let my dealer have a look at it first, but it's a good idea, I guess I want to know if the entire machine's going to look like that after a year. Dealing with paint issues under warranty doesn't seem like an easy thing to do. I've never had the experience, but have read a lot of bad stories of people who have.

The thought of it not being a splash type issue scares me, not sure I'm ready to face that possibility. I'll let my dealer have a look at it first, but it's a good idea, I guess I want to know if the entire machine's going to look like that after a year. Dealing with paint issues under warranty doesn't seem like an easy thing to do. I've never had the experience, but have read a lot of bad stories of people who have.

I think the tractor will be fine. The loaders are likely manufactured and painted separate from the tractors.

Re: FEL paint peeling

Same here....my loader is much more beat up than KiotiKen's, but it's all self-inflicted.

Good to see another from the area HereticWild. Although my address is Armstrong I'm actually straight west of Enderby on Wolfgang Rd.

Hey now, that's almost name calling!!!!! I'm a little surprised how well the bucket has held up (paint wise). I've hauled lots of gravel, done lots of soil and a bit of digging. I now have 100 hours and it'll be one year old sometime in April. That's less than I put on my CK 30 the first year I had it (135) but not that much less, and it's bucket didn't have much paint left on it.